The Ceremony at the Opening of the Temple
v1 King Solomon called the leaders of the tribes and the families in Israel together. They went to Jerusalem to bring the Lord’s Covenant Box to the temple. It had been in Zion, David’s city. v2 All the men in Israel came together to King Solomon. They came during the Festival of Shelters in the 7th month.
v3 When all the leaders had arrived, the priests lifted up the box. v4 They carried it to the temple. The priests and Levites also carried the tent of the Lord’s presence and all the furniture. v5 King Solomon and the Israelites with him went in front of the Covenant Box. They sacrificed so many sheep and cattle that nobody could count them.
v6 The priests carried the Covenant Box into the inner room of the temple. They put it in the Most Holy Place under the wings of the special angels. v7 These wings covered the box and the poles that the priests used to carry it. v8 These poles were very long. People could see their ends from the front of the Holy Place. People could not see them from anywhere else. The poles are still there today. v9 There was nothing in the box except the two large stones. Moses had placed them in it at Mount Horeb (Sinai). The Lord made a covenant there with the Israelites. This happened after they came out of Egypt.
v10 As the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled the temple of the Lord. v11 The priests could not perform their duties. The cloud of the glory of the Lord had filled the temple.
v12 Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would live in a dark cloud. v13 I have built a magnificent temple for you. It is a place for you to live for always."
Commentary
This describes how they brought the Covenant Box into the temple. This event happened during the Festival of Shelters. This happened on the 15th day of the 7th month.
All the leaders of Israel attended the ceremony. They all brought animals to sacrifice to God.
The Covenant Box was the most sacred object in the temple. It was a wooden box, but gold surrounded the wood. Originally, Moses made it for the inner room of God’s special tent, that is, the tent of the Lord’s presence. Nobody would enter that room except for the chief priest. And even he only entered the room once each year.
The only things in the Covenant Box were the stones of the 10 commandments. These reminded the Israelites about the covenant that God had made with them at Mount Sinai.
So, at this great ceremony, the priests moved the Covenant Box into the inner room of the new temple. This was a very holy moment. So the priests acted with great care. The Covenant Box was very sacred. The priests would know about Uzzah’s death (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Uzzah had died because he touched the box. So the priests carried the box on long poles. They offered very many sacrifices. After they placed the box in its special place, they left the room.
Then the cloud which was a sign of the glory of the Lord filled the temple. This showed that God accepted the building and furniture of the temple. Such an event had happened centuries before. It happened when Moses finished the construction of the tent of the Lord’s presence. On both occasions, the cloud showed that God was really present. He had been present at the tent. And now he was present at the temple.
God sent the cloud so that people could not see the wonderful light of his presence. That light is too bright for people to see, because of their human weakness. Moses briefly saw the light of God’s presence. But even Moses could not see God’s face. Any person who saw God’s face would die (Exodus 33:20). Afterward, Moses’ own face shone so brightly that he had to cover it (Exodus 34:24-35). But Paul says that, in the future, we shall see God’s face (1 Corinthians 13:12). This is God’s wonderful promise to every real Christian. And John agrees, in Revelation 22:4. John adds that our future home will not need the sun or the moon. That home will be bright because God is present there. And that light will shine across the whole world (Revelation 21:23-24).
Solomon Talks About His Father
v14 As the people stood there, King Solomon turned. Then he blessed them. v15 He said, "I give honor to the Lord God of Israel! He has done what he promised to David my father. He has said, v16 I brought my people out of Egypt. I did not choose any city or tribe in Israel where people could build a temple to worship me. But I chose David to rule my people Israel.”
v17 My father David wanted to build a temple. This was to give honor to the Lord God of Israel. v18 But the Lord said to my father David, “Your desire to build a temple for me was a good one. v19 But you shall not build it. Your son who is from your own family will build it for me.”
v20 The Lord has kept his promise. I have followed David my father as king, as God promised. I have built a temple to give honor to the Lord God of Israel. v21 I have provided a place for the Covenant Box. It contains the stone blocks of the covenant that the Lord made. He did this when he brought our ancestors out of Egypt.
Commentary
This is what Solomon said to the people. He thanked God for all that he had done. He had kept his promises to his people. He had helped Solomon to build the temple. In the Book of Deuteronomy, God promised to choose a place where his people would worship him (Deuteronomy 12:5). This would be the proper place for them to offer their sacrifices. God did not need a house to live in. The temple was a sign of his presence among the Israelites. In those days, God lived with his people. Today he lives in his people. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:16, ‘We are the temple of the living God.’
Our translation simply mentions the "temple." But in the original language, these verses emphasize that the temple is "for the name of God." By ‘name’, Solomon did not just mean the word that we use to call someone. ‘Name’ meant the honor, authority, and power of a person’s character. So God’s temple would show God’s wonderful character. Here, God would forgive sin when people turned to him. Here, God would show his kindness when he answered prayer. Here, God would accept the *sacrifices that his people offered.
Solomon Prayed
v22 Then Solomon stood in front of the altar of the Lord. All the Israelites were there. He raised his hands to heaven v23 and he prayed. ‘Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your covenant of love with your servants. You do this when they completely obey you. v24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father. You yourself promised this and you have kept your promise. You yourself did what you said. Today you have carried out your promise.
v25 Now Lord God of Israel, keep the other promise. You made it to your servant David my father. You told him, “You will always have a descendant to rule over Israel. But this will only happen if your sons obey me. They must do this as carefully as you have done.” v26 So now, God of Israel, I pray this. I pray that you will perform all your promises to your servant David, my father.
v27 But surely God will not really live on earth! The highest heaven is not great enough for you. This temple that I have built certainly cannot be great enough. v28 But Lord, my God, I am your servant. Please listen to my prayer and to my cry for mercy. Hear my prayer and the requests that I am making to you today. v29 Watch over this temple day and night. You said that people would give you honor in this place. Hear the prayers that I, your servant, am praying towards this place. v30 Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people [called Israel] when they turn towards this place. From your home in heaven, hear us. And when you hear, forgive us.
Commentary
Solomon stood to pray. In those days, the person who was lower in rank stood. The person of higher rank would sit down. Solomon, therefore, showed that God is great. And Solomon was humble as he prayed. He was the king. But he even called himself God’s servant. Kings often thought that the people were their servants. But, in this prayer, Solomon says that the people in Israel were God’s servants.
God had done what he had promised. So Solomon gave honor to him. God had promised that he would choose a place for the temple (Deuteronomy 12:5). That had happened. Now Solomon prayed that God would keep his other promise. David’s descendants would continue to rule Israel as long as they obeyed God. Solomon then recognized that he could not keep God in the temple. God is everywhere. But he asked that God would hear. And that God would answer the prayers that people made to him from the temple. He prayed too that God would forgive them.
For the Christian, God really has come to live on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness is available for all who put their trust in Jesus. This is because Jesus died for us. He is now in heaven and he is praying for his people. He offers their prayers to his Father.
Hypotheses
v31 Suppose that a man does something wrong to his neighbor. People ask him to make a serious declaration. Then he comes and makes this declaration in front of your altar in this temple. v32 Listen in heaven and act. Be like a judge between your servants. Say which one is guilty. Punish him as he deserves. Say which one is not guilty. Then everyone will know who is innocent.
v33 Suppose that an enemy defeats your people Israel. This is because they have sinned against you. Then they turn to you and worship you. They pray to you in this temple. v34 Listen in heaven and forgive the sins of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.
v35 Suppose that you do not allow it to rain. This would be because your people have sinned against you. Then your people turn to this place and they give you honor. They turn from their sin because you have punished them. v36 Listen in heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, the people in Israel. Teach them to do what is right. Then send rain on the land that you gave to your people as a permanent possession.
v37 Suppose that there is no food in the country. Suppose that there is great illness. Perhaps strong winds dry out the crops. Perhaps locusts (insects that fly in large groups) destroy them. Perhaps their enemies attack their cities. Or maybe there is some other disease or disaster. v38 Perhaps one of your people regrets this and prays to you towards this temple. v39 Then listen in your home in heaven. Forgive them and help them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as they deserve. v40 Then everyone will respect you all the time that they live in the country of their ancestors.’
Commentary
Solomon asked God to listen to people’s prayers when people prayed towards the temple. He asked that God would be their judge. God would know who was the innocent person or the guilty person.
Solomon also prayed here about many different types of trouble. Perhaps Israel’s enemies would attack them, or there would be a lack of food. Perhaps there would be a disaster or some disease. He prayed that God would forgive people. But they had to turn from their sins.
Today, we do not pray towards a place but towards a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn about him as we study the temple. It is Jesus who can forgive us.
Solomon’s words refer back to Deuteronomy chapter 28. In that chapter, God promised to do good things for the people in Israel. However, they would only receive the benefit of those promises if they obeyed God’s law. If they did not obey, they would suffer many troubles. Solomon mentions many of these troubles in his prayer.
Of course, many people suffer similar troubles for other reasons. Troubles happen to everyone. These troubles are often not the result of sin (John 9:1-3). But Solomon knew how God had warned the people in Israel. And so this prayer was about those troubles that really are the result of sin. Solomon prayed that the people would not suffer a permanent punishment. God had provided the temple. And this temple would be the place where people would pray. They could offer sacrifices. They could ask God to forgive them. So Solomon prayed that God would forgive them. And he prayed that those troubles would then end. (See Ezekiel chapter 18; James 5:13-20).
More Hypotheses
v41Suppose that a foreigner hears about your fame. He does not belong to Israel. He comes from a distant country. v42 [Many will hear of your great name and the great things that you have done.] He comes and he prays towards your temple. v43 Then hear from heaven your home. Do whatever that foreigner asks you to do. So all the people in the world may know you and obey you. Your people Israel do this. Then everyone will know about this temple that I have built. It is the place for people to give honor to you.
v44 Suppose that you send your people to fight against their enemies. Then they pray to the Lord. They turn towards this city that you have chosen. They turn towards the temple that I have built for you. v45 Listen to their prayers and give them success.’
Commentary
Solomon asked God to accept the prayers of foreigners who came to him. He understood that God’s good news was for all people, not just one nation. Jesus said, "My temple is a house of prayer for the people in all nations" (Mark 11:17). Solomon also prayed that Israel might have success in wars. In 2 Kings chapter 19, Hezekiah went to the temple to pray for the defeat of Sennacherib’s army.
Another Hypothesis
v46 Suppose that they sin against you. [There is nobody who does not sin.] As a result, you become angry with them. You let their enemies defeat them. Then their enemies take them as prisoners to their own countries far or near. v47 Perhaps in that country where people hold them as prisoners they will feel sorry about their sin. Then they pray to you. They realize how wicked and sinful they have been. v48 So in the country of their enemies who took them as prisoners they turn back to you. They do this with all their heart and soul. Then they pray to you towards the country that you gave to their fathers. They pray towards the city that you have chosen. They pray towards the temple that I have built for your name.
v49 Then listen to their prayers from your home in heaven. Show them mercy. v50 Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the sins that they have done against you. Make their enemies give them mercy. v51 Do that because they are your people. You brought them out of Egypt. That was a terrible place, like a burning fire.
v52 I pray that you will always answer with kindness the prayers of me, your servant. And I pray that you will always answer with kindness the prayers of your people called Israel. Please listen to them whenever they call to you for help. v53 You chose them from all the nations of the world to be your own people. You said this by your servant Moses. You said this, Lord, when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.
Commentary
Solomon then prayed for those whom God would punish because of their sin. God would allow their enemies to capture them and to take them into exile. As a result, they would turn from their sins and look towards their country. They would look towards Jerusalem and the temple. They could not come to the temple to pray, because they were in exile. But they could still turn towards Jerusalem to pray. Daniel actually did this in Daniel 6:10.
He asked that God would pardon them. They were the people whom he brought out of Egypt. He chose them to be his own people. Because of God’s covenant with them, he would show them grace.
Romans 5:6 tells us how God shows his grace to Christians also. "When we were still without power, Christ died for wicked people." Ephesians 1:4 says, "God chose us in Christ before he made the world." 1 John 1:9 says, "But if we tell God the truth about our sins then he will forgive us."
Solomon Finishes His Prayer
v54 When Solomon had finished his prayer to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar. He had been on his knees there. But he was lifting up his hands towards heaven. v55 He stood and he blessed all the Israelites in a loud voice. v56 "I give honor to the Lord. He has given his people peace. He promised that he would. He has kept all the wonderful promises that he gave by his servant Moses.
v57 The Lord our God was with our ancestors. I pray that he will be with us in the same way. I pray that he will never leave us alone. v58 I pray that he will help us to obey him. I pray that we will obey him. I pray that we will obey all his laws and commands. He gave these laws and commands to our ancestors.
v59 I want the Lord always to remember the prayers and requests that I have made to him. I want him daily to assist me, his servant, and his people Israel with the help that we need. And I pray that he will do those things. v60 Then all the nations in the world will know that the Lord is God. There is no other god. v61 But you should always be loyal to the Lord our God. You should always obey his laws and commands as you do at this time."
Commentary
Solomon blessed the people. He told them to be completely loyal to God. He reminded them how God had helped them in the past. As a result, they must obey God. He prayed that God would assist them daily with their troubles. Then other nations would know that he is the only real God. This is because of what he has done for Israel.
In Ephesians 1:11-12 Paul says to Christians, "God chose us in Christ…. to give honor to his glory." So as God works in our lives, he receives the glory.
v62 Then the king and all the people with him offered sacrifices to the Lord. v63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats as fellowship offerings to the Lord. So the king and all Israel gave the temple to God.
v64 On the same day, he made the central part of the square in front of the temple holy. There he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat from the fellowship offerings. He did this because the altar of bronze (a brown metal) in front of the Lord was too small. There were so many offerings.
v65 So Solomon and the people with him celebrated the Festival of Shelters at that time. There was a large crowd of people. Some people came from as far away as Lebo Hamath and the border of Egypt. They celebrated for 7 days in front of the Lord our God. Then they continued for another 7 days, 14 days in all. v66 The next day he sent the people away. They blessed the king. They went home full of joy and happiness because of all the blessings. The Lord had given these blessings to his servant David and to his people Israel.
Commentary
There was a large crowd of people when they gave the temple to God. That is why there were so many sacrifices. The celebration lasted 7 days. Then the Festival of Shelters also lasted 7 days. People came from every part of the kingdom. They came from Lebanon in the north to the border of Egypt in the south.
This was the beginning of the daily sacrifices for sin at the temple. These lasted as long as the temple stood. Today Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus prays to God for us. His prayers for us are also continuous. But Jesus’ death as a sacrifice only happened once. That one perfect sacrifice was enough for all our sin (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:10-12).
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